Mysterious pipe found in bathroom

[as-ty]

We just purchased a 2005 Classic 25' and discovered a cut off end of a pipe behind the access panel under the bathroom sink. It appears to be coming up from a T in the grey water pipe that runs along the access area? I'm trying to figure out what it's for, or if it's supposed to be there at all.

[A W Warn]

An air admittance valve (studor vent) should be installed on the open end of that pipe.
It migh have bounced off and be laying hidden behind the pipes.

[as-ty]

I suspected it was something like that, but had no idea where to even start. It's not shown anywhere in the owner's manual or parts catalog.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

[GMFL]

Should look like this.

[A W Warn]

You can pick one up at any hardware store in the plumbing parts.

[as-ty]

I looked around and didn't find it. Guessing it rolled somewhere out of view or the "loose part" was removed by a previous owner. Now it's on my shopping list.

Thanks for the help! Glad to have this mystery solved.

[rmkrum]

Yup. Missing device is needed to keep sewer stench and possibly explosive gasses out of living space as well as admit air so plumbing drains work correctly.

[AlinCal]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

Yup. Missing device is needed to keep sewer stench and possibly explosive gasses out of living space as well as admit air so plumbing drains work correctly.

Explosive sewer gas? What you been eating?

[pcskier]

Originally Posted by as-ty

I looked around and didn't find it. Guessing it rolled somewhere out of view or the "loose part" was removed by a previous owner. Now it's on my shopping list.

Or it was never installed in the first place. Plumbing installer doesn't have one handy and needs to go to parts bin; goes to lunch, and forgets he didn't put it in. Stranger (and much worse things) happen at the factory. Like the guy on this forum with a brand new trailer who had a sewage smell and discovered, behind the wall, that the long PVC pipe connecting the black tank vent to the roof vent was missing. As in, not even there. Someone at the factory missed a tackle and simply didn't install it.

[rmkrum]

The black tank, with sufficient contents, nice warm weather, and enough time, can certainly generate methane gas from the lovely natural bacteria that cause flatulent emissions in humans.

Enough concentration in a confined, unventilated space, can create a lively explosive fuel/air mixture just waiting for a spark to ignite it.

Methane is interesting stuff, and, as I’ve said before, being in the center of a rapidly expanding methane-fueled fireball is no more fun that one powered by a propane leak.

Besides, methane is the main component of natural gas, and there is a neighborhood in Massachusetts that has a close understanding of just what methane leaks can do...

The great irony in all this is that vegetarian diets actually can generate more methane—consider that the average bovine is a major emitter of methane, a common greenhouse gas causing huge issues (at least in the usual environmentalist agenda...) and is certainly a committed vegetarian! [emoji3]

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by pcskier

Or it was never installed in the first place. Plumbing installer doesn't have one handy and needs to go to parts bin; goes to lunch, and forgets he didn't put it in. Stranger (and much worse things) happen at the factory. Like the guy on this forum with a brand new trailer who had a sewage smell and discovered, behind the wall, that the long PVC pipe connecting the black tank vent to the roof vent was missing. As in, not even there. Someone at the factory missed a tackle and simply didn't install it.

Mine as seen in previous photo is glued on so I would suspect it was never installed.

[OTRA15]

TMI Rich I am eating my breakfast!



Peter

PS -- Can you believe the MA gas company apparently had excessive pressure in their system? I thought that multiple safety checks would have been in place to prevent that? If only some old-fashioned blow-off valves located randomly here and there.

[rmkrum]

I’m married to a registered nurse. Believe me, conversations around here get far more graphic than just a few comments about sewer gas, etc.

[zapper]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

The black tank, with sufficient contents, nice warm weather, and enough time, can certainly generate methane gas from the lovely natural bacteria that cause flatulent emissions in humans.

Enough concentration in a confined, unventilated space, can create a lively explosive fuel/air mixture just waiting for a spark to ignite it.

Methane is interesting stuff, and, as I’ve said before, being in the center of a rapidly expanding methane-fueled fireball is no more fun that one powered by a propane leak.

Besides, methane is the main component of natural gas, and there is a neighborhood in Massachusetts that has a close understanding of just what methane leaks can do...

The great irony in all this is that vegetarian diets actually can generate more methane—consider that the average bovine is a major emitter of methane, a common greenhouse gas causing huge issues (at least in the usual environmentalist agenda...) and is certainly a committed vegetarian! [emoji3]

Yep. That's why your local sewage treatment facility has a flare. It's to burn off that methane and avoid an unpleasant explosion. As to the bovine emission contribution, some states are actually trying to regulate "bossy's diary air". Silliness really.

[as-ty]

I'm in CA, and there was talk of the entire dairy industry moving to another state because the State was going to outlaw cows' emissions--or something like that. Not sure how that solves the problem, to just ship it all to another state.

Whatever! I just don't want my tanks to send their own emissions into my AS. Found the same part installed under the kitchen sink while I was fixing a leak under the sink. I'm guessing the one in the lav was never installed, since there is no glue on the pipe. It's surprising that it's not been an issue since 2005.

I'm enjoying learning about my AS while I try to fix 5+ years of no maintenance, and this forum certainly helps.

[rmkrum]

We live about 10 miles south of some dairy farms. There are many houses being built in the area. The owners have discovered that the ground is soaked with the leavings of generations of dairy cows. The problem is that the soil is now highly acidic and it corrodes pipe rapidly, even buried copper plumbing. Almost bought a house in that area, but the salesperson failed to answer my dear daughter’s innocent question, “when does the cow stink stop happening?” Shortly after, the newspaper article about the corrosion showed up. We bought a house that was built in the old orange groves, as a precaution.

[AFTER TAXES]

Originally Posted by A W Warn

An air admittance valve (studor vent) should be installed on the open end of that pipe.
It migh have bounced off and be laying hidden behind the pipes.

maybe first owner stored his drugs ??? lol

[zapper]

Originally Posted by as-ty

I'm in CA, and there was talk of the entire dairy industry moving to another state because the State was going to outlaw cows' emissions--or something like that. Not sure how that solves the problem, to just ship it all to another state.

Whatever! I just don't want my tanks to send their own emissions into my AS. Found the same part installed under the kitchen sink while I was fixing a leak under the sink. I'm guessing the one in the lav was never installed, since there is no glue on the pipe. It's surprising that it's not been an issue since 2005.

I'm enjoying learning about my AS while I try to fix 5+ years of no maintenance, and this forum certainly helps.

I hear ya. I live in CA too but work in AZ because of all the silliness here.

Black water tanks (BWT) tend to smell bad if the tanks are not flushed on a regular basis. Your tanks apparently were. Any way even in the worst case there would be very little Vollitile Organic Emissions exhausting from your BWT. About the same as a pine tree or less I would estimate.

Glad you are enjoying learning about your AS from the forum. Many member are very knowledgeable as they learned the hard way and are willing to share.

Best of luck and travels in your AS.